Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has highlighted the issues of concern and he has correctly pointed out that not just the O'Farrell family, but the public is entitled to answers on these. The Deputy mentioned that the driver was on bail on charges of theft and possession of stolen property at the time of the collision. The Deputy also mentioned that Gridziuska's convictions for those theft offences in May 2011 should have triggered his reappearance before the courts. I cannot ignore the fact that, in the scoping exercise report, those issues were dealt with. I fully agree with the Deputy that I do not expect the justice committee to start conducting inquisitorial hearings. It cannot do so. I was on the justice committee as a member and as Chairman. However, what the justice committee can do when I send it the report is to look at the recommendations that are contained within. The Deputy and many others may not like the content of the replies provided in the scoping report, but they have to be considered. I come back to the point that I cannot ignore a report of 415 pages, but we need to have further engagement on it. The recommendations need to be assessed by the justice committee. I will keep an open mind on the Deputy's principal question.

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